I Never Called Him Pa

by Diane Kane

I Never Called Him Pa by Diane Kane is a coming-of-age novel set in the 1950s told in the voice of Henry, a young fatherless boy living on a farm in Northern Illinois with his Grandmother, his wayward mother, and the traveler who changes all their lives. After WWII, the military sent men home on trains. Some never got off. They rode the rails in boxcars, searching for their souls lost to the toils of society or the ravages of war. Ernest, one such man of color, seeks refuge with Henry, Gram, and her daughter Janie on the farm. Their sins and secrets could either drive them apart or bind them together. Take a journey you will never forget in I Never Called Him Pa, by Diane Kane.

374 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2023

About the author

Author Diane Kane dabbles in all genres and explores every aspect of writing and publishing. She measures her success by the friends she has made along the way. You can find her work in numerous anthologies, magazines, and periodicals. Her love of writing led her to be one of the founding members of Quabbin Quill’s non-profit writer’s group. Q.Q. has published three anthologies that include works by aspiring writers and offers scholarships to writing students. Diane is the publisher and coauthor of Flash in the Can Number One and Number Two, stories to read wherever you go. She writes public interest articles for Uniquely Quabbin Magazine and professional reviews for Readers’ Favorite. Her recently released children’s book Don Gateau the Three-Legged Cat of Seborga is published in English, Spanish, French and Italian. Look for her next book children’s book, Brayden the Brave, due out in April.

Reviews

[kathi Driskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pa Comes In Many Forms

A warm-hearted story of growth in the Fledgling of America. A child with no father and a man without a family, become a loving family United. Growing up on a farm and seeing hobos riding the rails was normal during the 40’s The story of Ernest the hobo becomes a life of respect and love as children grow and do not see color on the skin of people. A story of color and love eternal!

[Bryan Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just completed “I Never Called Him Pa.”
This is not my preferred genre. I usually focus on suspense and mystery novels. Despite that I must say I LOVED IT. A trip through time with people you will call friends. The love of an atypical family.
This was an excellent first novel for Diane Kane. I can’t wait to read her future novels.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good novel

I really enjoyed this story. It is slow paced and draws you in and connects you with the multi faceted characters. The author introduces difficult issues and handles them with grace. A very endearing story. You will feel all your emotions reading it. I highly recommend this book. I will be telling my book groups and friends to put this on their tbr list.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane…this novel has everything you want; a GREAT storyline; characters that you can relate to; and; most importantly; COMPASSION for those that are treated differently in our society…when they really shouldn’t be; as we are ALL God’s creations. It was an honor to be a coworker of yours at the Athol P.O. I look forward to your next literary adventure. Take Care!

[Sarah Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel so warm and fuzzy. It is horribly sad at the end but so wholesome too. It was a great feel good read!

[Liz Shattuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm and wonderful book

Growing up in th
e 50's so many memories the train sounds the hobos on the trains this book warmed my heart I love the characters the story and I am only sorry the book ended. I did not want to put it down

[Christine Noyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that tug at your soul. 'I Never Called Him Pa' is one of those books. Author Diane Kane’s beautiful characters made me want to be a better person.

We meet young Henry at the tender age of five and grow with him through the 1950s and 60s. He lives with his grandmother, Margarette, on an Illinois farm and never fails to greet the early morning train with a hardy wave and smile. Magarette is a hard-working, selfless woman who takes care of those in need, including the large black man, Ernest, who wanders onto the farm in bad health. This captures the attention of the townspeople.

Diane tackles the racial topic, as well as other social issues, with grace and validity.

Ernest and Henry create a bond as Ernest teaches the boy about life and what it means to be a good man. But Ernest’s wisdom, faith, and honor reach far beyond the farm and touches the hearts of many.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 7*, loved it. It starts out with Henry just 5 years old. Lives with grandma because his mom always runs off with men. Henry loves to watch the trains go by, the men get out and his grandma leaves them some food because they live on a farm. And one day there is a huge black man who is sick and grandma takes him in. Now this is when people in this little town can't believe she ends up having him, Ernest, living in the house. As the years go by, Ernest becomes like a dad to Henry. And the town gets to love him. Great book.

[Paul LaGreca · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I went over and hugged her waist burying my face in the folds of her cotton dress ... she smelled like bacon and soap and things that stayed put, and I knew everything would be all right." (Little Henry describing his Grandma).

This beautiful, poetic sentence from Diane Kane's poignant and beautiful, "I Never Called Him Pa," epitomizes and captures the heart of this endearing and precious novel. It is a narrative told by little Henry who lives with his Gram on the farm. It is a story about relationships, people who come into our lives when we least expect it, compassion, wisdom, and mostly love in its purest form - even when there is pain. 

Kane's exceptional writing captures the essence of her characters so thoroughly that detailed physical descriptions are not even required - one just knows who these people are. The imagery comes alive on the first page and for the next 362 pages she takes us away to simpler times; a time when America was less encumbered with materialism and technology; a time when folks were more God-fearing; a time when simplicity was enough and when friendships and family were everything. 

There is a rare underbelly to this work, however. It is not just a well-crafted story. Diane Kane taps into a type of "authenticity" that resonates so profoundly on each page that the "truth" and honesty she relays keep one riveted and make it a real page-turner. 

I rarely finish a book with tears in my eyes, but I did with this novel. Every character took a little piece of my heart, and I hated to say goodbye. I could not help but imagine "Pa" as a film. It is "Lillies of the Field" meets "Places in the Heart" meets "Stand By Me" ... and so much more.
This book is a breath of fresh air and so far, it is my favorite book of 2023. HIGHLY recommend!! 

[Sharon Healy-Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Diane Kane's I Never Called Him Pa. The book portrays genuine human feeling without being mushy. Set in the 1950s, the book focuses on the life of a young boy growing up on a Midwestern farm near the railroad lines. He has something of a tough life with not much money in the family and a mother who like to take off when the spirit or her libido moves her. Nevertheless, he has genuine love to hold him steady from his grandmother who raises him, his best friend and his sister from the next farm over, and other members of the community. He also finds Ernest, a black man who is one of the forgotten men from WWII riding the rails with others in the same state. When the man ends up on the farm, sick, the grandmother nurses him back to health and he repays them by helping at the farm, but also helping them through his innate dignity and generous spirit. His decency changes the views of his community, which he helps out, while also giving the narrator a sense of value and hope. Kane challenges the stupidity of racism, misogyny, antisemitism, and homophobia through her narrator's facing each with the clear-eyed view of a child not yet corrupted by social convention. Her book shows the value of compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, and self-respect with humor and honesty. I warn you, you might end up crying.

[Diane Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom read fiction, but as a fellow author, I told Diane I would happily buy her book, read it, and review it. She had me captivated in the first few chapters. Her book reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing, which I devoured.

The book starts in the late 1940s and ends in 1968. Kane skillfully weaves relevant issues of that period throughout the storyline. The rich, varied, and likable characters hold the reader's attention. I couldn't get enough of Ernest's wisdom and life lessons.

As I approached the novel's end, I deliberately slowed my consumption of the story because I didn't want it to end. I enjoyed picking it up and getting lost in the storyline, the characters' lives, love, and hardship. I highly recommend this book.

[Clare Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I find most intriguing about Diane Kane's self-published novel "I never called him Pa"is the innocent and frankly honest voice of young "Henry"hotels the story set in Post world war II Illinois.
Diane's"wordsmithing"caught me with a yellow highlighter quickly abandoned in favor of simply reading as they were far too many phrases to cover in fluorescent yellow!
Historical accuracy in richly peppered nostalgia soothe like a winding lazy river as Diane definitely weaves heart affirming grace gradually falling over evil in this journey we call Life...
A must read!

[Cynthia Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

"Classic" read. Simple engaging and entertaing story line. Loved reading it after work,(2nd shift nurse)to relax but then found myself staying up until wee hours of the morning reading it! Pure and simple LOVED IT!

[Beth Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family story post WW2 plus a coming of age story . The characters draw you in. We could all use an Ernest in our lives. How lucky Henry was to have him as his “pa”.

[Shawna Kaloustian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story that captured my attention and heart! Being told from Henry’s point of view really made me love this story even more💜

[Sandy Piscitelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Great read had a hard time putting it down!